Apparatus and method for level shifting in power-on reset circuitry in dual power supply domains

ABSTRACT

A level shifter for use in a dual power supply circuit operating from a VDD power supply and a VDDH power supply greater than the VDD power supply. The level shifter indicates to a status circuit in the VDDH power supply domain that the VDD power supply is enabled. The level shifter detects when the VDD power supply is on and sets an enable signal to the status circuit. The level shifter also detects when the VDD power supply is off and clears the enable signal to the status circuit.

This application is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/322,983 filed on Dec. 18, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,894,537.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to large scale integratedcircuits and, in particular, to power-on reset circuits for use inintegrated circuits having dual power supply domains.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, there have been great advancements in the speed, power,and complexity of integrated circuits, such as application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC) chips, random access memory (RAM) chips,microprocessor (uP) chips, and the like. These advancements have madepossible the development of system-on-a-chip (SOC) devices. A SOC deviceintegrates into a single chip all (or nearly all) of the components of acomplex electronic system, such as a wireless receiver (i.e., cellphone, a television receiver, and the like). SOC devices greatly reducethe size, cost, and power consumption of the overall system.

Reductions in power consumption are particularly important in SOCdevices. SOC devices are frequently used in portable devices thatoperate on battery power. Since maximizing battery life is a criticaldesign objective in a portable device, it is essential to minimize thepower consumption of SOC devices that may be used in the portabledevice. Furthermore, even if an SOC device is not used in a portabledevice, minimizing power consumption is still an important objective.The increased use of a wide variety of electronic products by consumersand businesses has caused corresponding increases in the electricalutility bills of homeowners and business operators. The increased use ofelectronic products also is a major contributor to the increasedelectrical demand that has caused highly publicized power shortages inthe United States, particularly California.

To minimize power consumption in electronic devices, particularly SOCdevices, many manufacturers have reduced the voltage levels at whichelectronic components operate. Low power integrated circuit (IC)technology operating at +3.3 volts replaced IC technology operating at+5.0 volts. The +3.3 volt IC technology was, in turn, replaced by +1.8volt IC technology in many applications, particularly microprocessor andmemory applications.

However, as the operating voltage of an integrated circuit is reduced,the noise margins of the integrated circuit are also reduced. Thus, anintegrated circuit operating at +1.8 volts has smaller noise marginsthan a circuit operating at +3.3 volts. In deep submicron VLSI designs,two voltage sources for a chip design are common. One voltage source isan internal core power supply voltage (i.e., VDD) that has a lower swingvoltage than the second voltage source, which provides the input/output(I/O) pad ring voltage (i.e., VDDH). Common range values may include aVDD of 1-1.8 volts and a VDDH range of 2.3-3.6 volts.

Many processing systems implement states in which the output powersupply, VDDH, is powered up while the internal core power supply, VDD,is zero. In order to allow circuits in the VDDH power supply domain toknow the status of the VDD power supply domain, a power status signal inthe VDD power supply domain is level shifted and latched into the higherVDDH power supply domain. The power status signal is a power-on reset(POR) signal that is detected and latched by the level shifting circuit.The POR signal indicates that the VDD power supply is ON.

Unfortunately, however, in many systems, if the VDD power supply iscycled ON and OFF several times, the latching circuit in the levelshifter is not cleared. Thus, if the VDD power supply is turned OFF, thelevel shifter will falsely indicate that the VDD power supply ispresent. Some conventional level shifting circuits that clear the VDDstatus signal each time that VDD is turned OFF consume an excessiveamount of current.

FIG. 4 illustrates conventional level shifter 400 according to oneembodiment of the prior art. Level shifter 400 comprises N-channeltransistors 402, 404, 405, 406 and 408, P-channel transistors 412-418,and capacitor 420. Level shifter 400 operates between VDDH=+3.3 voltsand VSS=ground. The inputs to level shifter 400 are the VDD power supplyand the IN signal. Level shifter generates the POWER VALID signal on theOUT node.

The IN signal indicates that the VDD power supply is enabled. When VDDgoes high, the IN signal goes high shortly thereafter. When VDD goeslow, the IN signal goes low shortly thereafter.

P-channel transistor 414 and N-channel transistor 404 form a firstinverter stage. P-channel transistor 415 and N-channel transistor 406form a second inverter stage. Finally, P-channel transistors 416, 417,and 418 and N-channel transistor 408 form a third inverter stage.

When the VDD power supply is on, VDD is a Logic 1 (+1.8 volts) and theIN signal also is a Logic 1 (+1.8 volts). When the IN signal goes toLogic 1, N-channel transistor 402 is on and the INT1* node is pulleddown to ground (i.e., Logic 0). This turns on P-channel transistor 413.When the IN signal is Logic 1, N-channel transistor 404 is on andP-channel transistor 414 is off. This pulls the gate of N-channeltransistor 405 to ground, thereby turning off N-channel transistor 405.Since P-channel transistor 413 is on and N-channel transistor 405 isoff, the INT1 node is pulled up to the VDDH power supply rail. Thisensures that P-channel transistor 412 is turned off. Thus the inputstage latches the INT1 node to a Logic 1 level equal to VDDH and latchesthe INT1* node to Logic 0.

Since INT1 is VDDH, capacitor 420 charges up to VDDH. This turns onN-channel transistor 406 and turns off P-channel transistor 415, so thatthe INT2 node is pulled low (i.e., Logic 0). The Logic 0 on INT2 nodeturns on P-channel transistors 416, 417 and 418 and turns off N-channeltransistor 408. This drives the OUT node high, so that POWER VALID isLogic 1.

At some point, the VDD power supply may turn off, so that the VDD powersupply rail at the source of P-channel transistor 414 goes to Logic 0(i.e., ground). The IN signal goes to Logic 0 a fraction of a secondafter VDD turns off. Unfortunately, the Logic 0 value of the IN signaldoes not propagate through the first inverter formed by P-channeltransistor 414 and N-channel transistor 404. This is because the VDDpower supply rail provides power to the first inverter, and VDD hasturned off.

As a result, when the IN signal goes to Logic 0, the gate of N-channeltransistor 405 does not go to Logic 1. Since N-channel transistor 405 isstuck in the off position, the INT1 node is stuck at Logic 1. Therefore,if the VDD power supply is cycled on and off, the INT1 node in thelatching circuit in level shifter 400 is not cleared and the OUT signalis stuck at Logic 1. Thus, if the VDD power supply is turned off, levelshifter 400 falsely indicates that the VDD power supply is stillpresent.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for integrated circuits in whichone power supply domain be powered up while internal core circuitry isnot powered up. More particularly, there is a need for an improved levelshifter circuit that indicates the presence of a valid VDD power supplyto a higher VDDH power supply domain that clears itself whenever the VDDpower supply signal is turned OFF.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is aprimary object of the present invention to provide a level shifter foruse in a dual power supply circuit operating from a VDD power supply anda VDDH power supply greater than the VDD power supply. According to anadvantageous embodiment of the present invention, the level shifter iscapable of indicating to a status circuit in the VDDH power supplydomain that the VDD power supply is enabled, wherein the level shifterdetects when the VDD power supply is on and sets an enable signal to thestatus circuit and wherein the level shifter detects when the VDD powersupply is off and clears the enable signal to the status circuit.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the level shifterreceives the VDD power supply voltage and a VDD status signal, whereinthe VDD status signal indicates that the VDD power supply voltage ispresent.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the levelshifter clears the enable signal to the status circuit if either the VDDpower supply voltage is off or the VDD status signal indicates that theVDD power supply voltage is not present.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention so that those skilled in the art maybetter understand the detailed description of the invention thatfollows. Additional features and advantages of the invention will bedescribed hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of theinvention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they mayreadily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as abasis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out thesame purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art shouldalso realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from thespirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, itmay be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and“comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion withoutlimitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases“associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivativesthereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with,contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, becommunicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximateto, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and theterm “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controlsat least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware,firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same.It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particularcontroller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally orremotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are providedthroughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the artshould understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitionsapply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words andphrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates a processing system which comprises an exemplarysystem-on-a-chip (SOC) device according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates power-on reset (POR) status circuitry according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary level shifter according to anadvantageous embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a conventional level shifter according to oneembodiment of the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 4, discussed herein, and the various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present invention in this patent documentare by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any wayto limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art willunderstand that the principles of the present invention may beimplemented in any suitably arranged integrated circuit.

FIG. 1 illustrates processing system 100, which comprises exemplarysystem-on-a-chip (SOC) device 105 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. SOC device 105 is a single integrated circuitcomprising processor core 110, graphics rendering block 120, (optional)display control circuit 130, memory 140, bandwidth matching-clocksynchronization interface 150, peripheral interface 160, splittransaction, unidirectional bus interface (IF) unit 170 (or bus IF unit170), and bus control processor 180. Processor core 110 containsinternal level one (L1) cache 115. Peripheral interface 160 communicateswith external device 190.

Processing system 100 is shown in a general level of detail because itis intended to represent any one of a wide variety of electronicproducts, particularly consumer appliances. Display controller 130 isdescribed above as optional because not all end-products require the useof a display. Likewise, graphics rendering block 120 may also beoptional.

For example, processing system 100 may be a printer rendering system foruse in a conventional laser printer. Processing system 100 also mayrepresent selected portions of the video and audiocompression-decompression circuitry of a video playback system, such asa video cassette recorder or a digital versatile disk (DVD) player. Inanother alternative embodiment, processing system 100 may compriseselected portions of a cable television set-top box or a stereoreceiver.

Bus IF unit 170 provides high-speed, low latency communication pathsbetween the components coupled to bus IF unit 170. Each componentcoupled to bus IF unit 170 is capable of initiating or servicing datarequests via four unidirectional bus interfaces: two request buses and atwo data buses. The request bus contains address lines, byte enablelines (32-bit or 64-bit data reads), cycle type lines, and routinginformation for transactions. The data bus contains data lines, byteenable lines (for data writes), completion status lines, and routinginformation to associate the data bus packets with the appropriaterequest bus packet. As noted, the four buses are unidirectional andpoint-to-point to minimize loading and timing variations. In addition,bus IF unit 170 provides a diagnostic bus, power management controls,clocks, reset signals, and a scan interface.

Bus IF unit 170 implements a transaction protocol that defines themechanism for transferring packets between devices coupled to bus IFunit 170. In addition, the transaction protocol defines the control forclocks and power management. The packet protocol standardizes the systemlevel interactions between devices coupled to bus IF unit 170. Thehardware requirements for mapping transactions, arbitrating packets, andmaintaining coherency is specified in the packet protocol.

Bandwidth matching-clock synchronization interface 150 comprise a queuethat bridges ports on bus IF unit 170 that have different widths ordifferent frequencies, or both. Bus control processor 180 controlscertain operations of bus IF unit 170 related to clock timing, powermanagement, and diagnostic features.

Peripheral interface 160 is a bus device used for chip-to-chipcombination between SOC device 105 and an external peripheral device,such as external device 190.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, SOC device 105may use two power supplies: an internal low voltage supply (e.g.,VDD=+1.8 volts) to power internal logic and an input/output (I/O) highvoltage supply (e.g., VDDH=+3.3 volts) to power I/O lines that interfacewith external circuitry. For example, processor core 110 and bus IF unit170 may operate at VDD=+1.8 volts and the output stage of peripheralinterface 160 may operate at VDDH=+3.3 volts. Additionally, +3.3 voltcircuitry may be used within SOC device 105 to drive selected internaladdress and data lines. For example, if memory (i.e., RAM) 140 is largeand separated from bus IF unit 170, the address and data lines of memory140 may be driven by +3.3V power supply rails.

The present invention provides a level shifting circuit capable oftransferring a power status signal from the VDD power domain to thehigher VDDH power supply domain. The power status signal is a power-onreset (POR) signal that is detected and latched by a level shiftingcircuit. The POR signal indicates that the VDD power supply is ON. Thelatching circuit translates the POR signal to the higher voltage domain.If the VDD power supply is cycled ON and OFF several times, the latchingcircuit according to the principles of the present invention is clearedeach time that VDD is turned OFF.

FIG. 2 illustrates power-on reset (POR) status circuitry 200 accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. POR status circuit 200comprises power-on reset (POR) detector 210, filter 220 and levelshifter 230. POR detector 210 may be any conventional circuit thatdetects with the PWR2 input (i.e., VDD) is set high and output a highvoltage (i.e., +1.8 volt) on the PWR ON output. Filter 220 prevents“glitches” caused by noise spikes in the PWR ON output from reachinglevel shifter 230. Thus, a stable Logic 1 is issued to level shifter230, which responds by setting the POWER VALID signal to a Logic 1 inthe VDDH=+3.3 volt power supply domain.

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary level shifter 230 according to anadvantageous embodiment of the present invention. Level shifter 230comprises N-channel transistors 301-308, P-channel transistors 311-318,and capacitor 320. Level shifter 230 operates between VDDH=+3.3 voltsand VSS=ground. The inputs to level shifter 230 are the VDD power supplyand the IN signal, which is coupled to the OUT signal from filter 220.Level shifter generates the POWER VALID signal on the OUT node.

The gate and the drain of N-channel transistor 301 and the gate and thedrain of N-channel transistor 303 are connected to the VDDH power supplyrail. In this configuration, N-channel transistors 301 and 303 causethreshold voltage drops between the VDDH power supply-rail and thesources of P-channel transistors 311 and 314, respectively. Thethreshold voltage drops ensure that P-channel transistors 311 and 314turn completely off and have leakage currents that are nearly zero.

P-channel transistor 314 and N-channel transistor 304 form a firstinverter stage. P-channel transistor 315 and N-channel transistor 306form a second inverter stage. Finally, P-channel transistors 316, 317,and 318 and N-channel transistor 308 form a third inverter stage.

When the VDD power supply is ON, VDD is a Logic 1 (+1.8 volts) and theIN signal also is a Logic 1 (+1.8 volts). VDD equal to Logic 1 turns onN-channel transistor 307 and turns off P-channel transistor 311. Whenthe IN signal goes to Logic 1, N-channel transistor 302 is on and theINT1* node is pulled down to ground (i.e., Logic 0). This turns onP-channel transistor 313. When the IN signal is Logic 1, N-channeltransistor 304 is on and P-channel transistor 314 is off. This pulls thegate of N-channel transistor 305 to ground, thereby turning offN-channel transistor 305. Since P-channel transistor 313 is on andN-channel transistor 305 is off, the INT1 node is pulled up to the VDDHpower supply rail. This ensures that P-channel transistor 312 is turnedoff. Thus the input stage latches the INT1 node to a Logic 1 level equalto VDDH and latches the INT1* node to Logic 0.

Since INT1 is VDDH, capacitor 320 charges up to VDDH. This turns onN-channel transistor 306 and turns off P-channel transistor 315, so thatthe INT2 node is pulled low (i.e., Logic 0) through N-channel transistor307. The Logic 0 on INT2 node turns on P-channel transistors 316, 317and 318 and turns off N-channel transistor 308. This drives the OUT nodehigh, so that POWER VALID is Logic 1.

The IN signal goes to Logic 0 whenever VDD goes to Logic 0 (i.e.,ground) in that the high value of the IN signal is set by VDD. The INsignal goes high (i.e., to the value of VDD at that time) when asampling circuit sampling VDD indicates that VDD is high enough to beconsidered valid.

At some point, the VDD power supply may go low, so that the IN signalgoes to Logic 0 (i.e., ground) and the VDD input goes to Logic 0 (i.e.,ground). VDD equal to Logic 0 turns off N-channel transistor 307 andturns on P-channel transistor 311. When the IN signal goes to Logic 0,N-channel transistor 302 is off and the INT1* node is pulled high byN-channel transistor 301 and P-channel transistor 311. This turns offP-channel transistor 313. When the IN signal is Logic 1, N-channeltransistor 304 is off and P-channel transistor 314 is on. This pulls thegate of N-channel transistor 305 up to Logic 1, thereby turning onN-channel transistor 365. Since P-channel transistor 313 is off andN-channel transistor 305 is on, the INT1 node is pulled down to the VSSpower supply rail (i.e., ground). This discharges capacitor 320 throughN-channel-transistor 305. This turns on P-channel transistor 312, whichpulls the INT1* node up to the VDDH power supply rail. Thus, the inputstage latches the INT1 node to a Logic 0 level and latches the INT1*node to Logic 1.

Since INT1 is pulled down to ground, N-channel transistor 306 is off andP-channel transistor 315 is on. This pulls the INT2 node up to the VDDHpower supply rail (i.e., Logic 1). The Logic 1 on the INT2 node turnsoff P-channel transistors 316, 317 and 318 and turns on N-channeltransistor 308. This drives the OUT node low, so that POWER VALID isLogic 0.

Although the present invention has been described with an exemplaryembodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present invention encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A dual power supply circuit for use with a first power supply domaincomprising a first power supply and a second power supply domaincomprising a second power supply, the dual power supply circuitcomprising: a level shifter capable of providing an indication to thefirst power supply domain that the second power supply in the secondpower supply domain is enabled.
 2. The dual power supply circuit ofclaim 1, wherein a voltage provided by the first power supply in thefirst power supply domain is greater than a voltage provided by thesecond power supply in the second power supply domain.
 3. The dual powersupply circuit of claim 1, wherein the level shifter is capable of:setting an enable signal in response to determining that a voltageprovided by the second power supply in the second power supply domain ispresent; and clearing the enable signal in response to determining thatthe voltage provided by the second power supply in the second powersupply domain is not present.
 4. The dual power supply circuit of claim3, further comprising a power-on reset detector capable of detectingwhen the voltage provided by the second power supply in the second powersupply domain is a high voltage and generating a status signal; whereinthe level shifter is capable of receiving the status signal.
 5. The dualpower supply circuit of claim 4, further comprising a filter capable offiltering the status signal; wherein the level shifter is capable ofreceiving the filtered status signal.
 6. The dual power supply circuitof claim 4, wherein the level shifter comprises: a first inverter stagecapable of receiving the status signal; a second inverter stage; and athird inverter stage capable of producing the enable signal.
 7. The dualpower supply circuit of claim 6, wherein the first inverter stage iscapable of receiving a voltage provided by the first power supply in thefirst power supply domain through an N-channel transistor, the voltageprovided by the first power supply in the first power supply domainreceived at a gate and a drain of the N-channel transistor.
 8. The dualpower supply circuit of claim 6, wherein the level shifter furthercomprises an N-channel transistor having a drain coupled to the secondinverter stage and a gate capable of receiving the voltage provided bythe second power supply in the second power supply domain.
 9. A system,comprising: a first power supply domain comprising a first power supply;a second power supply domain comprising a second power supply; and alevel shifter capable of indicating to the first power supply domainthat the second power supply in the second power supply domain isenabled.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein a voltage provided by thefirst power supply in the first power supply domain is greater than avoltage provided by the second power supply in the second power supplydomain.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the level shifter is capableof: setting an enable signal in response to determining that a voltageprovided by the second power supply in the second power supply domain ispresent; and clearing the enable signal in response to determining thatthe voltage provided by the second power supply in the second powersupply domain is not present.
 12. The system of claim 11, furthercomprising a power-on reset detector capable of detecting when thevoltage provided by the second power supply in the second power supplydomain is a high voltage and generating a status signal; wherein thelevel shifter is capable of receiving the status signal.
 13. The systemof claim 12, wherein the level shifter comprises: a first inverter stagecapable of receiving the status signal; a second inverter stage; and athird inverter stage capable of producing the enable signal.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the first inverter stage is capable ofreceiving a voltage provided by the first power supply in the firstpower supply domain through an N-channel transistor, the voltageprovided by the first power supply in the first power supply domainreceived at a gate and a drain of the N-channel transistor.
 15. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the level shifter further comprises anN-channel transistor having a drain coupled to the second inverter stageand a gate capable of receiving the voltage provided by the second powersupply in the second power supply domain.
 16. A method for use with afirst power supply domain comprising a first power supply and a secondpower supply domain comprising a second power supply, the methodcomprising: indicating to the first power supply domain that the secondpower supply in the second power supply domain is enabled.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising: detecting a voltage from thesecond power supply in the second power supply domain; and generating astatus signal indicating that the voltage provided by the second powersupply in the second power supply domain is present.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein a level shifter is capable of performing theindicating, the level shifter comprising: a first inverter stage capableof receiving the status signal; a second inverter stage; and a thirdinverter stage capable of providing an indication to the first powersupply domain.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first inverterstage is capable of receiving a voltage provided by the first powersupply in the first power supply domain through an N-channel transistor,the voltage provided by the first power supply in the first power supplydomain received at a gate and a drain of the N-channel transistor. 20.The method of claim 18, wherein the level shifter further comprises anN-channel transistor having a drain coupled to the second inverter stageand a gate capable of receiving the voltage provided by the second powersupply in the second power supply domain.
 21. A level shifter for usewith a first power supply domain comprising a first power supply and asecond power supply domain comprising a second power supply, the dualpower supply circuit comprising: a first inverter stage capable ofreceiving an input signal; a second inverter stage; a transistor coupledto an output of the first inverter stage and an input of the secondinverter stage; a third inverter stage capable of producing an outputsignal and having an input coupled to an output of the second inverterstage; and an N-channel transistor having a drain coupled to the secondinverter stage and a gate capable of receiving a voltage provided by thesecond power supply in the second power supply domain; wherein thefirst, second, and third inverter stages are capable of receiving avoltage provided by the first power supply in the first power supplydomain.